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Plant-Based Chocolate Mint Shake with Coconut

“Happiness. Simple as a glass of chocolate or tortuous as the heart. Bitter. Sweet. Alive.” ― Joanne Harris, “Chocolat”

July marks my seventh anniversary of reaching Lifetime status with Weight Watchers and August is also my seventh anniversary of becoming a Weight Watchers leader. When I look back and reflect on my journey, I realize that one of the healthiest changes that I made to my lifestyle is eradicating refined sugar from my meal plan. When I drink coffee or tea, I drink it black and candy, sweets, chocolate, juice, cereal, and ice-cream does not find its way into my shopping cart. I will on a rare occasion, when at a gathering, indulge in a regular soda (I try not to consume artificial sweeteners) and when I want something sweet I reach for a piece of fruit.

Every once in a while I will have a craving for something sweet – especially in the summer when ice-cream beckons – so I have come up with healthy ways to indulge a sweet tooth. Today I thought that I would share one of my favorites from the past couple years.

When I first started making plant-based shakes, or ice-cream, I would buy a carton of almond or coconut milk. But after reading the long list of ingredients, I decided that it would be healthier to make my own nut milks. Not to mention that I found myself tossing the processed cartons of plant-based milk away since I did not use it often and with the price of groceries, I despise throwing out food. For my dessert recipes that call for homemade plant-based milk, I use raw nuts and coconut water (or plain water). If I know beforehand that I am going to make a shake, I soak the nuts overnight (or for a few hours) but if I am being spontaneous – I add them straight to my Vitamix blender .

This recipe calls for fresh mint which I have available all summer in my garden. If you do not have access to fresh mint – a mint extract will do the trick. (I have found wonderful almond, mint, and vanilla extracts available in the spice aisle at Target.)

CHOCOLATE MINT SHAKE WITH COCONUT

1 and a 1/2 frozen bananas (mine were medium in size. I allow my bananas to get fully ripe and then I peel and toss in a freezer bag or bowl for smoothies and ice-cream/shakes)

1/2 cup to 1 cup of coconut water (depending on how thick or thin you want your shake. I used 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup of raw nuts (I used a mix that I find at Target)

Unsweetened cocoa powder to taste (I used 2 heaping Tablespoons)

Handful of ice cubes

Few sprigs of mint (or 1+ teaspoons of extract)

Blend well and garnish with cocoa nibs (or chocolate chips – many varieties are plant-based) and coconut flakes. Serve and enjoy!

*Notes –
Possible healthy additions to this shake include:

Avocado (it adds healthy fat and makes the shake creamy…surprisingly, it does not dramatically impact the taste)

Vanilla extract

A dash of cinnamon or nutmeg

Spinach (it is naturally sweet and it will change the color of the smoothie but like the avocado will not dramatically change the taste)

When I make curry I do buy canned coconut milk and I freeze the leftover. When I have it on hand I will use it in my plant-based shakes to make them extra creamy.

Make sure you check out my Healthy Indulges tab for other plant-based dessert shakes. I always love to hear what people think after trying one of my recipes and I enjoy hearing about the changes that are made to fit personal tastes.

Please make sure to stop by my Facebook Page and give it a “like” and make sure you sign up for email updates of my posts. Follow me on Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter. As always, please feel free to share my posts with others who embrace a healthy lifestyle.

Have a beautiful week and I hope that you enjoy the Chocolate Mint Shake! I raise my glass to you – cheers to thriving together!

5 thoughts on “Plant-Based Chocolate Mint Shake with Coconut”

What a great post! I just followed you to stay updated on your future posts and I look forward to them. I recently started my own vegan/political blog, so feel free to check it out and let me know what you think!http://MannyRutinel.com

Hi Amy, This is Jackie Johnsons sister Kim. I was so sorry to not be able to see you while I was inMarquette!!!! Jackie spoke of your families loss, I am so very sorry to hear of it! If I had the chance to talk with you, I would have told you how very much I enjoy reading your blog. Not just for W.W. (wonderful information) but mostly up lifting messages that I want you to know have really helped me on days that have been very dark! You have a wonderful gift of being so very creative and sharing that joy to others, is well- just a thrill to have in my life!!! I do not say that lightly, but from my whole heart! I hope the sadness of your Aunt’s death is calmed, I know the pain, as our brother took his own life 2 yrs. ago. Time is a great healer! You to garden, I find joy in knowing that life does go on. Even if it’s dark & raining the flowers are still yellow & up & wonderful!!! I wish you all the best, & hope we can meet up next time, or my doors are always open to you if ever you want to visit Seattle – any friend of Jackie, is a friend of mine, Kim

Hi Kim, Thank you so much for your sweet and kind message. I appreciate it more than words can even explain. It fills me with joy to know that you enjoy my blog and my posts. It has been such a remarkable journey and I am so thankful that I started blogging when I did.

It has been a difficult summer but I have a lot of love and support in my life. Time is a great healer and I am thankful to have gardening, writing, and cooking to help soothe me as well.

I’m sorry that I missed you too. I was in Crystal Falls and didn’t get Jackie’s message in time. Next time we will met up for sure. Thank you again for your kind words. You put a HUGE smile on my face. 😀